 |
REFURBISHED CATTERY
Although we were hoping to be able to report on significant progress
on the building of the new cattery, progress has been slow as
the contractor has been unable to provide a maximum project cost
(mpc), due to insufficient data on the structural engineering
side and details regarding electrical supply to the main site
etc. As it hasn't proved possible to get an mpc from the contractor,
trustees held a special meeting and have set a maximum budget
cost for this development. It is anticipated that work will now
commence in mid - March, with the project being completed by mid
- July. This is still within the 16-week build programme originally
forecast, but will mean a delay on re-opening of about 3 months
from our original proposals. WILDLIFE AREA
Work has started on this area, with the help of volunteers from
Barclays Bank. The pathways have been marked out and over 40 trees
and shrubs have been planted around the site. Summer-flowering
wild-flower seeds will be sown shortly and later in the year,
we will plant some Spring-flowering seeds and bulbs.
Clearly, the weather needs to improve before we can continue
to dig out the pathways and lay the path borders etc. The staff
from the local branch of Barclays bank have agreed to adopt our
project as a long-term community scheme and the bank may finance
the scheme up to £500. Special thanks to Julie Crowden and
her colleagues for their commitment with this scheme. Hopefully,
we can restart work on this area in March and look to complete
before the onset of next winter.
|
|
Future events include RSPCA Week (25th April - 1st
May) in which it is hoped that we can collect at Tesco's
stores in Chester, Heswall and Bidston.
Also the annual Wirral Coastal Walk, which will
be held on Sunday 22nd May. Anyone wishing to
do the walk please contact Joanne at the Animal Centre.
The date for the Annual Dog Show and Summer Fair
has been set for Sunday the 31st July. Please
let Joanne know of any "display team" or other alternative
group that we could contact as an alternative to using last year's
team. |
 |
Once again both Centres have had a good year in terms of re-homing
animals.
In 2004 the Centres re-homed 152 dogs, 396 cats and 118 miscellaneous
animals (rabbits, hamsters, birds etc), totalling some 666 animals
in total. Our home visitors carried out over 687 pre and post home
visits on our behalf. We are extremely grateful to all our home-visitors,
dog walkers and other volunteers, without whose support, we could
not ensure the continued success of the Centres.
We micro-chipped 544 animals last year. The Clinic
in Birkenhead treated over 3,200 animals and overall we helped over
649 owners with vouchers towards the cost of veterinary treatment
for their animals.
We also introduced a neutering scheme with effect
from the 1st January 2004 to assist owners to have their dogs and
cats neutered. In the first year of operation, we helped to neuter
134 dogs, 341 cats and 8 rabbits, 483 animals in total. This is
a good start and will over the next few years have a significant
impact on the number of unwanted cats & dogs in the area. The
Branch will continue with its neutering programme and will also
be working more closely with the Dogs Trust to extend this provision.
We have introduced a scheme to assist members of the public who
are willing to take in stray cats, by offering to meet the costs
of neutering, micro-chipping and the first course of vaccinations.
We have reached agreement with a number of veterinary practices
on the Wirral and in Chester to perform these operations for a reduced
fixed fee and we are extremely grateful for their support.
Although Barra Kennels do take in stray dogs as
part of their agreement with the local Chester City Council Dog
Wardens, the Animal Centre in Cross Lane is not licensed for stray
dogs and cannot accept them. This responsibility remains with the
local authorities dog wardens, or out of hours with the local Police.
We do, however take details of lost and found cats and dogs, so
we should still be contacted regarding such matters.
We have set up a separate page on our website for "Lost
& Found" animals to hopefully help reunite animals
with their owners.
On the re-homing front, we have had some good news over the past
few months, especially relating to our long-term dogs.
 |
Mandy who had been with us about 2 years
has been rehomed to a couple that live locally and will
provide her with a lovely new home.
|
 |
Rusty also with us about 2 years has fallen
on his feet and been taken by a publican and his wife who
live above the premises. Whilst we have urged the couple
not to integrate him too quickly into "bar-life",
it does appear as though he has settled in well and is chief
crisp sampler for all the regulars.
|
 |
Jay with us about 15 months has also settled
in well with his new owners who love him to bits.
|
Now that we have introduced a new system for processing requests
for rehoming dogs from members of the public, hopefully, we will
reduce the chances of dogs ending up as long-termers. However, we
will always put the dogs' welfare before the improvement of statistical
information.
With the assistance of the Regional Press Officer
we will shortly be placing an appeal in the local newspaper to try
to attract people into re-homing rabbits. Obviously, we hope that
this will not coincide with the Easter vacation.
The Chester Shop is a major asset to the Branch
and with the continuing help of Lillian Pepper and her band of
happy volunteers; they help to raise over £25,000 each year
from the sale of donated goods from members of the public.
 |
 |
| Well established in Christleton Road on the outskirts
of Chester |
Lillian Pepper (Volunteer Manager) in full flow, serving
a customer. |
The Shop is open every day except Sunday and provides an "Aladdin's
Cave" of past treasures that have served their original owner
and are looking for a new use or home. Lillian and her genies
can sell fridges to Eskimo's so unwanted donated items pose no
problem in being sold on.
Figures for Inspectorate/ACO work during the latter months
of 2004 were as follows:
| Description |
Number |
Complaints completed |
175 |
Rescues |
71 |
Collections |
175 |
Total Actions |
674 |
Following a steady increase in workloads in the group over the
summer months, the latter part of the year tends to reflect a downturn
in requests etc.
|
|
| 
|
Two particular cases of note involved a lady in Bromborough
who had 18 cats and 1 rabbit that were suffering from general
neglect. A prosecution is unlikely as 13 cats have been signed
over and some were euthanased on humane grounds. The lady has
been allowed to keep 5 cats (males), which have been treated for
flea infestation. The lady is likely to face an adult written
caution.
The second case involved a dog (now at the Animal Centre) who
was removed as he was malnourished and suffering from a skin condition.
Leanne is still trying to get the owner to sign the dog over for
re-homing.
The group has also now appointed a new Chief Inspector (to replace
Richard Harding) and we are pleased to welcome
Rachel Cavanagh to the patch.
Thank You's!
A big thank you to all the volunteers/helpers, staff, auxiliary
members and trustees for ensuring the continuing success of the
work undertaken by the Branch.
Our thanks also to the Inspectors and ACO's and not least to
our supporters/members of the public, whose help both financial
and in terms of food donations etc. prove invaluable in maintaining
our services in the Wirral, Ellesmere Port and Chester areas.
|
If you wish to contact me regarding any aspect
of this Newsletter, or to obtain further information or to insert
an article or message of your own, then please contact, Peter
Hattam, Branch Administrator on 0151-638-6611, you can leave a
message and I will get back to you, but please remember to leave
your telephone number.
Alternatively you can write to me at the Wirral
Animal Centre, Cross Lane, Wallasey CH45 8RH, or send an e-mail
to contact@rspcawirral.org.uk.
We hope that this newsletter has been helpful
in keeping you up to date with developments at the Branch and
we welcome any feedback you wish to give so that we can improve
its content, layout etc.
|
